First Financial (NASDAQ:THFF) Sets New 12-Month High – What’s Next?

First Financial Co. (NASDAQ:THFF)’s share price hit a new 52-week high during mid-day trading on Tuesday . The company traded as high as $53.44 and last traded at $52.03, with a volume of 134131 shares. The stock had previously closed at $52.02.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of equities research analysts have commented on the stock. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods reissued a “market perform” rating and issued a $55.00 price objective (up from $52.00) on shares of First Financial in a research report on Thursday, February 6th. Raymond James raised First Financial from a “market perform” rating to an “outperform” rating and set a $54.00 price objective for the company in a research report on Thursday, December 19th.

First Financial Trading Up 0.0 %

The business’s fifty day simple moving average is $47.63 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $45.48. The company has a quick ratio of 0.79, a current ratio of 0.79 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.05. The company has a market cap of $614.47 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 13.01 and a beta of 0.51.

First Financial (NASDAQ:THFF) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, February 4th. The bank reported $1.37 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.29 by $0.08. First Financial had a net margin of 15.37% and a return on equity of 8.77%. On average, equities analysts predict that First Financial Co. will post 5.41 EPS for the current year.

First Financial Increases Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, January 15th. Stockholders of record on Friday, January 3rd were issued a $0.51 dividend. This is an increase from First Financial’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.45. This represents a $2.04 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.92%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, January 3rd. First Financial’s payout ratio is presently 51.00%.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. JPMorgan Chase & Co. grew its position in shares of First Financial by 10.7% during the third quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 230,332 shares of the bank’s stock worth $10,100,000 after acquiring an additional 22,287 shares during the last quarter. Barclays PLC boosted its stake in First Financial by 62.1% during the 3rd quarter. Barclays PLC now owns 37,457 shares of the bank’s stock worth $1,643,000 after purchasing an additional 14,349 shares during the period. Creative Planning grew its position in First Financial by 57.1% during the 3rd quarter. Creative Planning now owns 47,665 shares of the bank’s stock worth $2,090,000 after purchasing an additional 17,322 shares during the last quarter. Millennium Management LLC grew its position in First Financial by 81.2% during the 2nd quarter. Millennium Management LLC now owns 73,144 shares of the bank’s stock worth $2,698,000 after purchasing an additional 32,783 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Dean Investment Associates LLC acquired a new position in First Financial in the third quarter valued at $2,856,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 72.74% of the company’s stock.

About First Financial

First Financial Corporation, through its subsidiaries, provides various financial services. The company offers non-interest-bearing demand, interest-bearing demand, savings, time, and other time deposits. It also provides commercial loans primarily to expand a business or finance asset purchases; residential real estate and residential real estate construction loans; and home equity loans and lines, secured loans, and cash/CD secured and unsecured loans.